I once read an article about being “blessed”. The suggestion was if you’ve accumulated material possessions, wealth, and social status – this was a direct sign that God has blessed you. It also tried to suggest that if you don’t have these things, then you’re not blessed. With this kind of nonsense in the Christian narrative, no wonder so many people are turning away from the Church and a desire to learn more about the Lord. God help us!!

But nothing could be further from the truth. There are millions of people who have none of the above – and yet, they are all truly blessed.

God’s blessing is not defined by wealth (or poverty), but by the blessing of His presence, mercy, love, and Holy Spirit guiding our hearts. It is imperative that we understand the blessing of God based upon His word and not based upon the opinions or the traditions of men.

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not turn to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. [Psalm 40:4]